There wasn't much in it for the companies involved in the Tauranga Harbour City Lions Book Fair - apart, perhaps, from making a simple, kind gesture and a little appreciation and customer loyalty coming back their way.

Those five local businesses are Harvey Norman and Carpet Court in Cameron Road, Gilmours at The Crossing, Smith City in the Bethlehem Town Centre and the Golf Warehouse in Chapel Street.

And we, the Harbour City Lions Club, and the thousands of bookworms who wallow in a good affordable read, believe they deserve a shout out.

These five businesses agreed to be drop-off points and depots for public contributions of books, puzzles, games and CD's for the Lions annual book fair at Tauranga Race Course. And over several months those businesses cheerfully received more than 1200 cartons, boxes, bags of contributions from Tauranga folk.

It was the first stage of used books being put back to good use again - engaging minds and entertaining, as well as raising thousands of dollars for charity.

It was an immensely enjoyable and successful community enterprise and so we wish to thank those companies for nodding to the greater good.

C Currie, Tauranga Harbour City Lions.